Shloka 88
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
मद्रराज: कथं शल्यो नियुक्तो रथिनां वर: । वैकर्तनस्य सारथ्ये तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय,संजय! रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ मद्रराज शल्यको कर्णके सारथिके कार्यमें कैसे नियुक्त किया गया? यह मुझे बताओ
madrarājaḥ kathaṃ śalyo niyukto rathināṃ varaḥ | vaikartanasya sārathye tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya saṃjaya ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Sañjaya, ceritakan kepadaku—bagaimanakah Śalya, raja Madra dan yang terunggul antara para pejuang berkereta, dilantik untuk menjadi sais kepada Vaikarṭana (Karna)? Jelaskan hal itu kepadaku, Sañjaya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds how roles in war are shaped not only by skill but by political circumstance and appointment (niyoga). It invites reflection on duty and honor: even a foremost warrior may be placed in a supporting role, and such assignments can carry ethical and strategic consequences.
Vaiśampāyana prompts Sañjaya to explain the backstory of how Śalya—king of Madra and a renowned chariot-fighter—came to be appointed as Karna’s charioteer, setting up the account of the circumstances and motives behind this arrangement.